the call for papers below may only be remotely of interest for most of
you, however, I posted some questions on speech rhythm to the list
earlier this year and I got a number of very interesting replies. So
maybe some people wish to know about this...

Best wishes,
Volker

CALL FOR PAPERS

*** Workshop on Empirical Approaches to Speech Rhythm ***

Centre for Human Communication
UCL

Abstracts due: 31st January 2008
Workshop date: 28th March 2008

Empirical studies of speech rhythm are becoming increasingly popular.
Metrics for the quantification of rhythm have been applied to
typological, developmental, pathological and perceptual questions. The
prevalence of rhythm metrics based on durational characteristics of
consonantal and vocalic intervals (e.g. deltaV, deltaC, %V, nPVI-V,
rPVI-C, VarcoV and VarcoC) indicate the need for agreement about their
relative efficacy and reliability. More fundamentally, it remains to be
demonstrated whether such metrics really quantify speech rhythm, a
controversial and elusive concept.

Abstracts:
We invite abstract submissions for a limited number of additional oral
presentations, and for poster presentations. We welcome abstracts that
address any or all of the following questions:
- What is speech rhythm?
- How should we measure speech rhythm?
- Which rhythm metrics are most effective and reliable?
- What can rhythm metrics tell us?
- What are the limitations of rhythm metrics?

Publication:
It is intended that a limited number of contributions to the workshop
may be published in a special issue of Phonetica. Initial selection of
papers will be made after the workshop with a view to compiling a
thematically coherent publication. Selected papers will subsequently be
reviewed.

Important dates:
Abstracts must be received by: 31st January 2008
Notification of acceptance: 15th February 2008
Date of Workshop: 28th March 2008

Abstract submission:
Abstracts should be sent to: rhythm2008@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Abstracts should
be in standard text processing format (e.g.: .doc, .rtf, etc.), 12pt
Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, and no longer than one page of A4.
The file should be entitled RhythmWorkshop-[name].doc, where [name] is
the last name of the first author. The abstract should start with:
- the title of the abstract in bold and centered;
- the name(s) and department(s) of the author(s) in italics and centered;
- the email address(es) of the author(s), centred.
The body of the abstract should be justified left and right.

Further information:
For more information and updates please check
www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/rhythm2008. Email enquiries should be directed to
rhythm2008@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx